Collapsible tube



et. 4, 1932- F. w. scHooNMAKER, JR 1,831,373

' COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed April 15, 1951 ATTORNEY Patented 9:21;. 4, 1932NETED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK W. SCHOONMAKER, JR, OF CALDWELL,NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SCI-IOONMAKER LABORATORIES, INC., 015 OF NEWJERSEY CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Applicationfiled April 15,

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible tube containers,such as are widely used for holding preparations of different kinds, tobe expelled by squeezing the tube.

An object of my invention is to provide a collapsible tube designed tofacilitate the discharge of a portion of its contents. In its practicalembodiment, the invention comprises a nozzle united to the tube as amember thereof, with an air bulb attached to the nozzle, for enablingcompressed air to be employed as the medium by which a quick dischargefrom the tube is effected.

The nature and advantages of the invention are set forth in thefollowing description,

taken with the drawing, which illustrates the best form of my inventionknown to me, and

I reserve the right to make changes which are consistent with theprinciple of the invention and are embraced within the scope and meaningof the appended claim.

On said drawing Figure 1 is a side view of a collapsible tube accordingto my invention; Figure 2 is a View of-what appears in Figure 1, seenfrom the right with the air bulb omitted; and

Figure 3 presents a detail.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

In the particular description of what the drawing presents, the numeral1 indicates the body of a collapsible tube, having a conical top 2 witha central outlet neck 3. Usually this neck is threaded outside toreceive a screw cap, but in my invention the neck is prolonged to formadischarge nozzle. This nozzle is open at its outer end, and at itsinner end it has internal screw threads 4.

At one side is a hollow boss or coupling neck 5 to which is attached anair bulb 6.

The bulb is compressible, and may be secured by drawing the contractedmouth 7 thereof over the end of the neck 5, which may have a rib orflange 8 thereon; or by cementing the bulb and neck together, ifdesired.

In operation the tube is squeezed to transfer a portion of its contentsinto the nozzle 3.

The neck 5 is diagonal and communicates with the inside of the nozzlebetween the 1931. Serial No. 530,182.

two ends of the latter, and the nozzle can be filled without causing itto overflow by pressing upon the outside of the tube to a suflicientextent. Then the bulb 6 is smartly compressed by pressing it between thefingers. Thus the air in the bulb expels the charge from the nozzle withsome force and spreads it out over the place on which it is to bedeposited.

When not in use, the nozzle 4 is closed by a stopper 8 comprising a head9, and shank 10, with threads 11 at the end thereof. This shank isscrewed into the internal threads 4 of the nozzle 3. The head of thestopper engages the outlet end of the nozzle and closes it, and theshank projects in far enough to close up the nozzle where itcommunicates with the tube 1. That is, it shuts the nozzle at its innerend and cuts off communication between the nozzle and the tube.

This construction of nozzle and stopper also permits convenient fillingof the tube. Such a tube is filled through the end opposite the outletor nozzle 3, which is generally too small for filling. When filled saidend is closed and held shut by a clip 12. To fill the tube, the stopperis screwed in, and the contents, as they enter through the endafterwards held shut by the clip 12, then cannot enter the nozzle. Ifthe threads 4 are any where else than at the inner end of the nozzle,such as between the neck 5 and the discharge end of the nozzle, thecontents would run into the bulb 6, even if the stem 10 extended in pastthe neck 5; because it would be difficult to make the stem fit theinside of the nozzle with sufficient tightness. But by disposing thethreads 4 at the inner end of the nozzle adjacent the conical portion 2,and shaping the stopper accordingly, the nozzle and bulb are effectivelysealed during the filling operation.

The shank of the stopper thus prevents the bulb 6 from filling up, as itwould otherwise do, both when the tube is being filled and afterwardwhen it is not in immediate use.

The invention is thus very simple, and can be easily and cheaplyproduced. By making the nozzle 3 in one piece with the tube, it cannotbecome separated and lost, and does 100 not require the buyer to go tothe trouble of attaching it. All that is necessary to make use of thetube is to remove the stopper, and then squeeze the tube and collapsethe bulb 6. Having described my invention, what I believe to be new anddesire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:V a v t A collapsible tube having a straight longitudinally extendingdischarge nozzle projecting therefromsaid nozzle having a coupling neckextending diagonally from one side between its outer end and said top,the neck being inclined toward the top, a pressure bulb attached to saidneck to expel a portion of the contents0f the tube through thenozzle,the latter having screw threads therein betweenthe neck and the top ofthe tube, and a stopper having a threaded shank to enter the nozzle andengage said threads to close the nozzle between the tube and the neck.

Signed at Caldwelhin the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, this21st day of July, A. D. 1930.

FREDERICK W. SCHOONMAKER, Jr.

